Medium for combating vermin



Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES MEDIUM FOR COMBATING VERMIN Gerhard Schrader, Opladen-Lutzenkirchen, Otto Bayer and Hans Kiikenthal, Leverkusen-ll. G. 1 Werk, Germany, assignors to Winthrop Chemical Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York No Drawing. Application April 2, 1936, Serial No. 72,444. In Germany April 3, 1935 3 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of media for combating vermin.

We have found that suliofiuorides, the suliofluoride group of which is bound in aliphatic 5 linkage possess a strongly poisonous action against vermin. Methane sulfofluoride has proved to be particularly suitable. The sulfofluorides display a poisonous action which, surprisingly, in many cases exceeds that of nicotin. When using sulfofluorides for combating vermin injurious to vegetation, it is remarkable that the plants treated are not injured.

The sulfofluorides may be employed in various manners. They may be used in the gaseous phase 15 either alone or with the addition of other inert gases or gases being effective for combating vermin, for instance, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ethylene oxide or hydrocyanic acid. Also warning or irritating substances, such as chloroformic acid ester may be added to the sulfofluorides to be gasifled.

Furthermore, they may be sprayed or nebulized in the form of their solutions, for instance in water or low boiling solvents, such as carbon tetrachloride acetone, benzene, benzine, or also in admixture with unsaturated solvents, as are obtained for instance in the petroleum fractionation. To solutions or dispersions of the said kind likewise other media for combating vermin, for instance nicotin may be added. The solutions of the sulfofluorides may also be absorbed by suitable substances, for instance paper or porous substances and may then be employed.

The sulfofluorides may also be used in solid or paste-like form alone or in admixture with inert substances and/or other solid or liquid media for combating vermin. Talc or chalk may for instance serve as inert stretching agent. The suitefluorides may be marketed in the form of powder or in the form of tablets.

The sulfofiuorides may serve for combating the most varied kinds of vermin. They have proved to be especially suitable for combating Calandra granaria, Tenelmo molitor and others, bedbugs, cockroaches, lice, flies, gnats, all kinds of moths, fur-beetle, carpet-beetle and its larva, ants, plant-lice, phylloxera, shield-lice and others. The sulfofluorides may also be employed for exterminating rats, mice and the like.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples without being restricted thereto:--

Example 1.A box of 1 cbm. content is filled with various items taken from a collection, drugs, seeds and the like all of which have been attacked by vermin. 1.5 grams of methane sulfoiluoride are caused to gasify in the said box. The

box remained closed for 24 hours. Thereafter it was found that all vermin contained therein, such as Calandra granaria, 'ienebrio m litor, different kinds of moths and bugs were killed. A test of gasified Wheat strongly infected by Calandra gmnaria shows that the germinating power of the grains is not afiected. The permeation-power of the gas is very good. Though thewheat was placed in a container having a longitudinal diameter of 25 cm. into which the gas could only penetrate from the top it was completely disinfected.

Example 2.--In a green-house of 100 ohm. content there are kept diiferent plants which are partly strongly aiiected by plant lice and white flies. For killing the plant lice cos. of methane sulfofiuoride are dissolved in one liter of Water and the said solution sprayed in the green-house. Thereby the whole room is gasified. Spraying takes place in the evening. Upon opening the room next morning all plant lice and white flies are found to be killed. The plants attacked were blooming cineraria, roses and apple seedlings. Fuchsia, tradescantia and vine-cuttings were gasified at the same time. None of the plants was injured by the gasiiication.

Example 3.--l0 kgs. of wheat are treated in a drum with 2 liters of a 1% aqueous solution of methane sulioiiuoride. On thoroughly mixing, the solution is completely taken up by the grains. The water may contain a dyestuii for coloring. After the treatment the grains are dried. Two to four grains are sufficient to kill a mouse within 24 hours. The grains are readily taken by mice besides untreated fodder.

In an analogous manner instead of methane sulfofiuoride which corresponds to the formula CHsSCzF other organic compounds with sulfofluoride group bound in aliphatic linkage may be used, for instance, ethane-sulfofluoride, propylsulfoiiuorlde, butyl-sulfofluoride, chloromethanesulfofluoride, chloroethane-sulfofluoride; furthermore, for instance dimethylaminoand diethylamino-ethane suliofiuoride.

We claim:

1. A medium for combating vermin, containing an alkyl-sulfoiluoride, in which the alkyl group, attached to the sulfofluorlde group, con,- tains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

2. A medium for combating vermin, containing methane-sulfofiuoride corresponding to the formula CHaSOzF.

3. A medium for combating vermin which con- .tains an aliphatic compound with a. sulfofluoride group bound in aliphatic linkage, and which compound contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

GERHARD SCHRADER. OTIO BAYER. HANS KUKENTHAL. 

